Chapter VIII:Protective Services

CHANGE # 05-2008

June 2008

I. INTRODUCTION

Child abuse and neglect occurring in child care facilities are violations of the licensure standards and of the licensure law. (N.C.G.S § 131D-10.1 et seq ) Refer to page 2 for definitions of child care facilities. North Carolina law requires county Departments of Social Services (DSS) to conduct Child Protective Service (CPS) assessments in child care facilities. (N.C.G.S § 7B-302, N.C.G.S. § 7B-101(3) ) Child care facilities are the only “part-time” non-relative caretaker relationships subject to CPS assessments. This section outlines the dual responsibility of county Departments of Social Services (DSS) and the Division of Child Development (DCD) in response to child abuse and neglect in child care facilities. All reports, regardless of the allegations, involving allegations concerning a child in the custody of a local DSS, family foster home, residential facility, or child care facility must be assigned to the Investigative Assessment response, and completed according to CPS policy.